Inundation Characteristics of Solitary Waves According to Revetment Type

Abstract

Wave absorbers installed in front of revetments are effective in reducing wave overtopping and inundation caused by periodic waves. The wave absorbers’ mechanism of reducing wave overtopping and inundation caused by long-period waves such as tsunamis and storm surges is not clearly understood. This study conducted a physical modeling test and numerical analysis based on a large eddy simulation model using in-house code to examine the characteristics of wave overtopping and inundation according to the revetment type for solitary waves. In a vertical revetment (VR), the dominant vertical velocity of the solitary wave cannot bend at a right angle during overtopping, causing flow separation to occur at the crest, which leads to increased drag and vorticity. In a wave absorbing revetment (WAR), the flow cross-sectional area decreases along the slope of the wave absorber, causing the flow velocity of the solitary wave to increase and the horizontal velocity to be dominant during the overtopping and inundation process. In contrast with the general wave overtopping characteristics of periodic waves, the maximum overtopping water surface elevation in front of the vertical wall is higher in a VR than in a WAR. However, the order of maximum inundation heights reverses as the wave propagates inland.